Southern drivers in demand ne
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• Experienced drivers are in demand again in the south following a turnround in business over the past few months.
Agency rates for drivers with a minimum of two years' experience are 20% up on last year. A growing shortage is allowing drivers to play one agency off against another to get the best rate, one agency says.
The shortage is due to businesses starting to expand again after the recession, and to dri
vers leaving the industry. "They can earn half as much again working for Honda in its factory," says one Swindonbased agency.
The Japanese car-maker has recently recruited 600 workers for a local plant.
A new Iceland depot managed by Lowfield Distribution, also near Swindon, has attracted drivers; some from other hauliers. The composite distribution centre opened a month
ago and will employ 100 drivers by September, says distribution productivity manager Andrew Monk.
The depot, which will handle up to 30% of Iceland's distribution, has not had recruitment problems so far, says Monk. Lowfield will not have to take up the many offers from agencies, he adds.
The recruitment agent says: "Demand is picking up; there are drivers out there but goodquality drivers are few and far between."
Hourly rates are now L4-4.50 compared with around 123 last year. The rate in the area is £1 above that in the Midlands, where a shortage of drivers has forced agencies to launch a recruitment drive (CM 2127 July).